Chapter 10

In the evening, Xi Shi hosted a dinner, inviting Da Niu and the employees who had worked overtime that day. His car was driven by Jing Chen, and although he had a sports car, he came straight from the hotel by taxi today, so he didn’t take it out. They had to take a taxi to the restaurant.

Fortunately, it was still early, before the rush hour, so getting a taxi was easy.

While waiting for the taxi, a sports car slowly slid over and stopped in front of Xi Shi. The person in the driver’s seat pushed his sunglasses up on his forehead, revealing Huo Siyuan’s youthful face.

“Hey,” he greeted.

Why was this guy so persistent?

Xi Shi was speechless. The mysterious and aloof image of the richest man was thoroughly grounded by this Third Young Master Huo.

Besides, Huo Siyuan wouldn’t have just been waiting here all afternoon, would he? He must have a lot of free time.

If Xi Shi were the richest man, he would have sent this rebellious nephew off to Africa to pioneer.

Huo Siyuan sneezed inexplicably and rubbed his nose. “Where are you headed? I’ll give you a ride.”

“No need, my taxi is here,” Xi Shi said as he started to walk away, but Huo Siyuan called after him.

Taking out his phone, Huo Siyuan said, “We can consider ourselves friends now. Let’s add each other on WeChat.”

Who would consider you a friend?

But Xi Shi thought about it and realized that Huo Siyuan couldn’t sneak into his phone to peek at Jing Chen’s WeChat ID anyway.

Besides, as rivals in love, knowing your enemy is the key to victory.

“All right then,” Xi Shi said, opening his QR code for Huo Siyuan to scan. After confirming the add request, Huo Siyuan put his sunglasses back on.

Before leaving, he glanced at a short distance away and asked, “Do you know that bald guy?”

Xi Shi paused and then realized the “bald guy” he mentioned was Da Niu, the new recruit.

And Da Niu was only balding in the “Mediterranean” style, not really bald.

“He’s a friend of mine. Why?” Xi Shi asked somewhat irritably.

“Nothing. He just looks familiar, but I can’t quite place him. My gut tells me he’s not a good person.”

“...”

Xi Shi couldn’t even be bothered to roll his eyes, thinking, “You look even less like a good person.”

Soon, the group arrived at the restaurant. Xi Shi gave his phone number to the waiter, who led them to a reserved private room.

Just as they reached the door, the neighboring room’s door opened, and Shao Xun came out looking dejected. Upon seeing Xi Shi, his expression instantly brightened.

“Xiao Shi!”

Xi Shi was utterly speechless. Was Yanjing really so small that he ran into acquaintances everywhere?

He didn’t want to engage with this loser, so he stepped forward to enter his room, but Shao Xun blocked his way.

“You came here specially to eat because you remembered that exactly one year ago today, I confessed to you here, right?”

“...”

His words were like a drop of water falling on oil—everyone in the studio shot gossipy glances.

Xi Shi whispered to Xie He, “You guys go in first.”

Xie He had met Shao Xun before; although he didn’t know what had happened between Xi Shi and him, blindly supporting a brother was the right thing to do.

Hearing Xi Shi’s words, he gave Shao Xun a sharp glare before leading the others inside.

After everyone had gone in, Xi Shi crossed his arms and looked at Shao Xun. “If I’m not mistaken, we’re no longer connected, right? Who are you trying to disgust here?”

Last year, there was a strong intention of an alliance between the Shao and Xi families. During the summer break, Shao Xun had invited Xi Shi out a few times, and Xi Shi thought he was a decent person.

So, Shao Xun chose a day to invite Xi Shi to dinner and solemnly confessed, and they officially became a couple.

He swore to heaven he didn’t remember the exact date.

Besides, there were only a few high-end restaurants around their school, and the one with a good reputation was this very restaurant. He’d been coming here dozens of times a year. Who the hell cared that Shao Xun had confessed to him here?

“Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I... I just remembered that I successfully confessed here on this day last year, so I came here on a whim. Then I happened to run into you and thought you felt the same.”

“That really must be disappointing. I’m not that cheap.”

“...”

Xi Shi felt there was no point in saying anything more to Shao Xun. He didn’t even bother to look at him and turned to enter the room.

Shao Xun instinctively took two steps after him but almost got his nose caught in the closing door.

He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Even though he was now with the one he liked, he couldn’t help but think about the moments with Xi Shi.

He used to regard Wang Yang as his ideal love, but over the three years Wang Yang was abroad, he had unconsciously idealized him, adding all kinds of filters. Now that they had reunited, he realized Wang Yang wasn’t as wonderful as he had imagined.

He constantly compared Wang Yang to Xi Shi and found Wang Yang inferior in every way...

Shao Xun stood dazed at the door for a long while. Passing waiters gave him strange looks before he finally turned and left.

When it came time to settle the bill, Shao Xun wanted to pay for Xi Shi’s portion too, but the waiter chuckled awkwardly.

“Mr. Xi just specifically said his bill doesn’t need to be paid by anyone else. He said... ahem, he’d rather lick somewhere else than here because it’s dirty.”

Shao Xun was speechless.

Naturally, welcoming new employees included drinking. Xi Shi only had about three beers’ worth and didn’t need anyone to water him down. During the toasts and celebrations, he was basically out of commission.

Everyone else at the studio knew his limits and didn’t bother including him in the drinking games.

Xi Shi squinted, took out his phone, and began bombarding Jing Chen with messages.

“Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Your little cutie suddenly appears.jpg”

“Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: o~baby, miss you so much.jpg”

At that moment, Jing Chen was at a ranch in the outskirts, having just finished a polo match.

He reined in his horse and skillfully dismounted. The groom promptly came over respectfully to lead his horse.

Playing alongside him was the ranch owner and his friend, Liang Lingyun. After dismounting, Liang exhaled deeply.

Taking the tissue from the ball boy to wipe the sweat off his forehead, Liang said somewhat resentfully, “I thought since you haven’t played in half a year, I could finally win once. Who knew you’d be even more ferocious today.”

Jing Chen took off his gloves, tossed them to the ball boy, and said three words: “You’re just bad.”

Liang felt stabbed.

Talent was something you just couldn’t compete with.

Moreover, the players who accompanied them knew Jing Chen tipped well and played recklessly, each one more fierce than the last.

Sigh... money was something you couldn’t compete with either.

Jing Chen went to the locker room, took a shower, and changed back into his casual clothes from earlier. He checked his phone and ignored several missed calls. Then he saw the WeChat messages Xi Shi sent five minutes ago.

The first was normal, but the second was a little cartoon mushroom-headed figure suddenly popping up close to the screen, puckering up and blowing kisses. Jing Chen felt visually assaulted.

A smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

So, he either missed him or wanted to sleep with him.

He didn’t reply, pocketed his phone, and walked out. Liang Lingyun was waiting outside and said, “They just sent some fresh matsutake mushrooms and black truffles. Let’s have dinner here.”

Jing Chen responded with a “Hmm” and entered the restaurant. The aroma of grilled meat filled the air. A handsome mixed-race young man was elegantly placing matsutake mushrooms on a small grill with tongs.

Liang Lingyun said, “This is my nephew, Liang Yi. He just watched you play polo and admires you a lot. He actually plays better polo than me. You two should spar sometime.”

Jing Chen said nothing and walked in, sitting down on the chair a waiter pulled out for him.

Xi Shi waited a long time for Jing Chen’s reply but frowned when none came.

Suddenly, he stood up and walked out.

The others were deep in their cups and thought he had gone to the restroom, so they paid no attention.

Xi Shi kept walking until he reached a cellphone shop next door to the restaurant. He went inside.

“Hello, welcome,” the clerk greeted warmly.

Xi Shi placed his phone on the counter. “My phone’s broken. Get me a new one.”

The clerk glanced at his phone, which was the latest model of a certain fruit-brand phone released just this July. Was the quality really that bad?

But a business brought to the door was never refused. She immediately started recommending some new models.

Xi Shi, dazed, chose the most expensive one.

After paying, inserting the SIM card, downloading apps, logging into WeChat, and opening Jing Chen’s chat window, Xi Shi confidently typed.

Meanwhile, Jing Chen, having declined Liang Lingyun’s offer of rare vintage wine due to driving, sipped lemon water distractedly as Liang Yi chatted about his life at his grandmother’s abroad. His phone vibrated twice on the table.

He picked it up.

“Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Hmph, my phone just broke, so I didn’t get your messages. Got a new one now.”

“...”

Jing Chen expressionlessly turned off the screen but reopened WeChat after a few seconds and typed.

Jing Chen: Is the matter settled?

Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Wow, changing phones really lets me get messages.

Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Am I a genius?

Jing Chen: ...

Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Almost done here, currently entertaining.

Jing Chen understood immediately.

He had witnessed Xi Shi’s drinking capacity.

Three drinks was already generous.

Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Got time later?

Jing Chen: “...”

He expressionlessly turned off the screen again. As expected, the topic never strayed far.

Still wanting to sleep with him.

“Mr. Huo,” Liang Yi noticed him putting down the phone and nervously asked, “Are you heading back to the city later?”

Jing Chen asked, “Why?”

Liang Yi hesitated. “Well, I’m not very used to driving and road conditions here. Could you give me a ride?”

Jing Chen had almost finished eating. He stood, grabbed his car keys, and said, “Let’s go.”

Liang Yi brightened up and quickly stood.

After bidding farewell to Liang Lingyun, Jing Chen and Liang Yi took a sightseeing car to leave the ranch. At the parking lot, he told Liang Yi to wait by the roadside while he fetched his car. Liang Yi obediently waited.

Soon, a car honked at him. He barely had time to wonder why Jing Chen was driving a Volkswagen when the window rolled down, revealing a young man’s face—one of the polo players from the accompanying group.

“Hello, Mr. Liang Yi?”

Liang Yi half-heartedly responded “Hmm.”

Upon confirmation, the young man smiled. “Mr. Huo said you’re heading into town and asked me to give you a ride. Please get in.”

Liang Yi was speechless.

Jing Chen strode to where the car was parked. He was driving the green-tinted Parra that belonged to Xi Shi. Just as he got in, another message from Xi Shi arrived.

Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Why can’t I get your messages again?

Why don’t you just fly up to the sky: Wait a moment, bro. I’ll ask the clerk to get me another phone.

“...”

Jing Chen wanted to reply that maybe it was a signal issue and that Xi Shi might as well change a satellite.

He tapped the screen lightly with his finger, then resigned himself to replying.

Jing Chen: Where are you? Send me your location.